#233 - How Mindi Navigated ADHD, Bootcamp Burnout, And Landed A Dev Role Develop Yourself podcast

11:27

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) Have you ever felt like the weakest link on your development team? You're not alone. The moment you land your first developer job, you're likely to face the crushing weight of comparison. Your teammates seem to know everything while your mind fills with doubts about your abilities. Seven years ago, this pressure nearly drove me out of the industry despite earning more money than ever before. The stress was paralyzing - I faced panic attacks each morning and received direct feedback about my inadequate skills. I developed a powerful three-step system that transformed my approach to professional growth that I want to share with you. Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#246 - Coding Bootcamps, Burnout, and the Hard Truth About Breaking Into Tech: An Engineering Manager's Perspective 27:40

6 days ago27:40

27:40

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) What do engineering leaders really think about bootcamp grads? Why are so many developers so stressed? Is it even worth learning to code in 2025? Michael Greenspan pulls back the curtain on the realities of engineering leadership, interviewing and the state of the industry, drawing from his extensive experience as both a software engineer and engineering manager before becoming a coach for burnt-out tech professionals. "Moving into management is a job change," Michael emphasizes, describing how this transition often comes with minimal guidance and significant imposter syndrome. Both Michael and host Brian share their personal experiences of feeling lost when first stepping into leadership positions. Find Michael at TheCompleteEngineer.com or connect with him on LinkedIn. Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#245 - What Developers Get Wrong About Interviews 36:19

10 days ago36:19

36:19

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) I spent a few years as an engineering manager, and my buddy Zubin, a former Google engineer, is currently hiring developers at his company. Between the two of us, we’ve seen the good, the bad, and the totally avoidable when it comes to technical interviews. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on what really happens during interviews. What are hiring managers actually looking for? What are the most common mistakes that cost people the job? And how can you stand out even if you’re early in your journey? Interviews are high stakes, high pressure, and if done right, high reward. We cover: Why trust matters more than being perfect How AI has changed the interview process What to do when you don’t know the answer How likability can make or break your chances The worst way to prep, and what to do instead As always - hope it's helpful! Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#244 - From Zero to Software Engineer After 30: My Journey and What You Need to Know 18:43

13 days ago18:43

18:43

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) Ever feel like you missed your chance to break into tech? That 30 marks some invisible deadline for career reinvention? I've been there—and I'm here to tell you it's absolutely false. My journey from addiction to software engineering began in my thirties , while juggling two kids and a full-time job. The truth about learning to code after 30 isn't sugar-coated: you're playing a different game than the 22-year-olds who've been coding since middle school. You'll have responsibilities they don't—families, mortgages and perhaps aging parents. But you also bring powerful advantages they lack: real-world experience, emotional intelligence, and discipline that comes from weathering life's storms. Where most career-changers fail isn't in their ability to learn, but in time management. You don't need eight hours daily—you need two focused hours and a reason strong enough to keep showing up. Don't let news cycles about AI or layoffs dictate your future. The tech industry desperately needs more adults in the room with diverse perspectives and life experiences. Whether you choose Parsity.io or another path, take that calculated risk on yourself. Because what's harder: the temporary challenge of learning something new, or staying stuck in a life you don't want? Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#243 - The 70% Problem: When AI Coding Falls Short 34:46

17 days ago34:46

34:46

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) What happens when software engineers rely too heavily on AI-assisted coding tools? Brian and Zubin (an ex-Google engineer) dive deep into what they call "The 70% Problem" – the phenomenon where AI coding tools excel at initial scaffolding but falter when tackling the crucial final 30% of engineering work. Drawing from Addy Osmani's insightful article, these experienced developers share their firsthand experiences with tools like Cursor, ChatGPT, and GitHub Copilot. They explore how AI-assisted coding creates a dangerous illusion of competence while potentially masking fundamental knowledge gaps. As Zubin aptly puts it, giving powerful AI coding tools to inexperienced developers is like "giving a Formula One car to someone who's only driven on city streets." Visit parsity.io to learn how Brian and Zubin are training the next generation of engineers to excel in this new paradigm. Addy Osmani's Article VS Code Cheat Sheet Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#242 - How Anne Got a Developer Job WITHOUT LinkedIn or LeetCode 33:48

20 days ago33:48

33:48

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) What happens when a music educator with performance anxiety decides to become a software developer? Anne discovered coding through The Odin Project and immediately recognized a familiar pattern-based thinking from her music background. "I fell in love with the process of coding, the community of developers," she explains. Despite being an introvert with social anxiety, she forced herself to attend meetups and hackathons—each experience confirming she was on the right path. Her job search defied conventional wisdom. No endless LinkedIn networking or algorithm grinding. Instead, a casual conversation with a friend led to her current role as a front-end developer. Want to follow in Anne's footsteps? Check out our Dev 30 program for structured JavaScript learning and community support. Visit dev30.xyz to save your spot and begin your own coding journey . You can connect with Anne here: Anne's LinkedIn Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#241 - The Bootcamp Era Is Dead — And That’s Great News for Developers 17:56

24 days ago17:56

17:56

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) AI didn’t kill bootcamps — shallow learning did. So what skills actually matter now that building a CRUD app is a commodity? And can you learn them without working at a company or getting a CS degree? In this episode, I’ll break down why the bootcamp model no longer works, what’s replacing it, and how to develop the old school engineering mindset that will set you apart in the AI era — even if you’re self-taught. If you’re serious about becoming a software engineer and want mentorship that’s not just YouTube and vibe coding, check out Parsity.io or hit the link in the show notes to chat. Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#240 - Navigating the Front-End Landscape: A Senior Developer's Perspective on AI Tools, Front End interviews and What Makes You "Senior" 24:29

27 days ago24:29

24:29

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) Yasemin, a senior front-end developer with a decade of experience, shares insights on career progression in front-end development and how the transition from junior to senior is more about mindset than technical skills. She discusses her journey from being task-focused to product-minded while offering practical advice for developers at all stages. • The junior-to-senior transition • Front-end interviews • Deep JavaScript fundamentals and whether they're worth learning Check out Yasemin's podcast "Commit to Growth" and look for her articles on Medium where she shares more technical insights and career advice. Yasemin's LinkedIn Commit to Growth Podcast Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#239 - Is Learning to Code Still Worth It? An Senior Developer's Perspective 14:06

4 weeks ago14:06

14:06

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) Chris, a mentee at Parsity was feeling a bit down and asked me straight up what I think about the future of coding careers. I had to really think about it. With headlines screaming about AI taking our jobs and markets being oversaturated, it's enough to make anyone question their path. But what if the doom and gloom narrative isn't matching reality? In this candid episode, I tackle the question head-on: is learning to code still worth it? Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#238 - My Experience in Vibe Coding Hell 20:31

5 weeks ago20:31

20:31

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) A rant on the myth of developer productivity with AI and my experience in vibe coding hell with a team of senior engineers. - Why Vibe Coding is great for prototyping and terrible for real software - Why we still need junior developers - Why you should be wary of loud expert beginners online - What skills you ACTUALLY need as a software engineer in the AI era Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#237 - Don't Learn to Code for the Money, But If You Do... 23:24

5 weeks ago23:24

23:24

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) You want to learn to code because you want more money. Let's just be honest about it. First off - there are many other ways to make a desirable income without learning a difficult skill like coding. You can do sales. You could be a product manager. Maybe start an illegal gambling den? Have you considered selling large quantities of drugs perhaps? If you do decide to create software for money, just realize you may never crack six figures, you're likely to be laid off at least once and you have to keep up with technology which changes fast AF. Is anyone still here? Here's the great news - if you do enjoy coding and are willing to do things that make you uncomfortable, you can have dramatic financial upside. I have a process I've been following to maximize my earning potential as a developer and stay employed which I want to share with you. Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#236 - Developer Internships: The Good, The Bad, and The “Wait, They Threw Out My Code?” 26:27

6 weeks ago26:27

26:27

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) What’s it really like to go from coding alone to working on a real dev team? Dean Fox shares his raw experience navigating TypeScript, Git, team dynamics, and scrapped code during his first internship through Parsity's Inner Circle program. 👤 Connect with Dean: Dean Fox on LinkedIn Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#235: 2 Skills You Don't Need Anymore In the AI Era and 3 More You're Going to Need 18:21

6 weeks ago18:21

18:21

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) The developer landscape is shifting. Fast. AI isn’t replacing developers—it’s replacing the kind of developer that only knows how to write boilerplate and follow tutorials. There are some practical skills you're going to want to pick up in the AI era and a few I'm kinda sad to say are becoming less relevant by the day. I mentioned my unit testing project in this episode - it's still worth checking out IMO. Grab it here: https://github.com/CodeCoachJS/js_pro_unit_testing Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#234 - Coding Isn’t Enough: 3 Weird Traits That Predict Success in Tech 16:24

7 weeks ago16:24

16:24

Send a text and I may answer it on next episode (I cannot reply from this service 😢) What separates successful tech career changers from those who struggle? After switching careers into tech at 31 following years of addiction, and mentoring hundreds of aspiring developers, I've noticed some odd patterns and traits of those who make it vs those who don't. This episode is not meant to discourage you. I hope it gives you a practical idea of some skills you can develop and ultimately, whether you should consider this career path. I'd love to know your take as well - leave a comment or email me at brian@parsity.io Shameless Plugs 🧠 (NEW) Parsity's The Inner Circle Program - a highly customized roadmap to take you from 0 to hired. For career changers who want to pivot into software. 💼 Zubin's LinkedIn (ex-lawyer, former Google, Brian-look-a-like) 👂🏻 Easier Said Than Done Podcast Already a developer? Check out 👉 Not Another Course Serious about joining Parsity? Schedule a call with me ☎️…

Develop Yourself

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#233 - How Mindi Navigated ADHD, Bootcamp Burnout, and Landed a Dev Role 39:14

7 weeks ago39:14